Contact member.



E. W. STULL.

CONTACT MEMBER. APPLlCArlou ilLto :uns 1s. 1913.

Y 1,260,730. `Patented 1m26.191s.

wsmfssf's:

l VENTOR W glam UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoEl.

EMMETT w. .s'rULII or WILKINSBURG, PENN'sYLvANrA, AssIGNoR To wEsTINGHousE ELECTRIC'AND MANUFACTURING coMPANit, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTACT MEMBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26,1918.

Application led .Tune 18, 1913. Serial No. 774,378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMMETT W. STULL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lNlilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of. Pennsylvania, have invented l a new and useful Improvement in Contact Members, of which the following is a specification. 4

My inventlon relates to contact members for electrical apparatus and has special ref-V erence to such control fingers as are employed in connection with switching devices of the rotatable drum type.

One ofthe objects of my invention is to simplify and improve the construction yand operation of devices of the above-indicated character, and to provide an inexpensive device, theV parts of which may be readily assembled and taken apart.

Another object of my invention is to pro-` vide a detachable finger which is normally l maintained under a denite pressure that may. be adjusted as desired, andwhich is `provided with effective and simple-means 'for securing good electrical connection be@ tween it and its supporting bracket.

Still further object is to provide means for securing a contact member to its supy *porting structure which shall embody relativelyffew parts thatare also adapted to clamp'a conductor of any size in position.

-Heretofore, a controller linger of this general type has been provided with a flexible shunt. that has been connected to the movable arm or finger and'also to its supporting bracket or .terminal block, whereby it was necessary 'to detach theshunt inorder -to removethe finger. Furthermore, prior devices have employed separate means for clamping theexternal conductors in 4position and also for securing the bracket members to a supporting structure or block.

It my purpose to prdvide a .controller finger of relatively few parts which are so assembled and disposed with respect to one another that the objects hereinbef'ore .mentioned are secured and -a device of special merit and utility provided.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a v1eW,'par

-finger 6 which is thereto, a clamping member 4 adapted to cooperate therewith, a bolt 5 for supporting bracket 3 and said clamping securing said member 4 rigidly in position, a controller connected to the bracket member 3, a tenlsion device 7 and a contact tip or memer 8.

The rotatable drum 1 is provided witha .conducting segment 9 which is adapted to be moved under Vthe contact tip 8 and in engagement.therewith vany suitable means. Itshould be understood, however, that my invention is notto be limited to rotatable drunrtype controllers, since although it is particularly applicable to this class of electrir ealapparatus, it may be embodied in switching devices of a materially different character. 4

TheV supporting bracket 3 is preferably disposed in a transverse groove 10 that is rovided in the surfacevll Aof the supporting block 2 and `is attached rigidly thereto by means of the bolt 5 lwhich mayconveniently be' a carriage bolt and which projects through the block 2 for this purpose. The head 12 of the bolt 5 is seated vin a suitable opening 13 to revent turnin ,dts other end ll is threa ed a considera le distance and is provided with Washers 15 and a clamping nut 16 by means of `which the pivotally and electrically bracket member 3 is clamped firmly to the y having a finger-positioning recess 22 in the bottom thereof. -A conducting member 27 lIHS ` with a tongue iov hasone end 28 electrically connected to the bracket member 3 vand the other end formed into a socket which is fitted into the groove 21 and conforms closely toits contour. An arm 17 extends outwardly fromthe bracket A3v: to support the tinger -6 .and is provided 18 which projects through an o ening 19in displacement of the same.

The finger 6 is preferabl made from conducting sheet material, although, of course, it is not essential that it be s o constructed, as any suitable material may be em loyed.'` The tip or contact member 8 is, suite lysecured to the outer end 23 ofthe linger and, the inner end 24 is provided with a' centrally located tongue 25 which projects into the recess 22 to prevent lateral displacement of the finger. A member 26 is closely1 fitted around the end 24 of the finger and is riveted thereto, thus constitutin an end portion for the finger 6 which may e seated within the socket of the member 27 and provide ood electricalcontact therewith.

In orgel' to maintain pressure, aspring 29 is end 23 ofthe finger 6. 30, which has a screw-thread enga secured to. the outer An adjusting screw with the projecting 'arm 17 of the racket j 30 relative to the suppor sure exerted by the contact Bris raised y `tact tip 8, with the 3', is interposed between ,the end 24; ofthe finger. 6 and itsjsupportlfl and serves to hold the linger 6 in yielding engagement with the socket memb .2 and the support 17. By adjusting the 'osi ion of the screw 30,1varying degrees of pressure may be secured between the contact tip 8 and con: ducting segment 9 of the rotatabl drum without chanfging the po'sitipn of the finger 6 when out o engagementl wlth the segment `9. By changing the postion' of the screw ing socket 21 and the contact tip 8, the point ot" application of the tensile forcesvv of the spring 29 is v l changed, and, thereforithe pressure of the mem' er 26 within th socket 21 may be caused to bear any desired ratio to the prestip' 8 upontlie segment 9. With the screw 30 in the position ,shown in the dawing, the pressure upon theseat 21 will beysubstantially three times that' of the contact tip 48 upon thethe finger 6 to prevent lateral- Lis longitudinally ductor 30..

.upper end of the' bolt 5 for ti the finger 6 undery by the engagement of the com Laeogao is merely necessary to withdraw the `screw 30, since the linger rests upon the 'xiembers 27 and 17. The finger 6 may therefore, be removed without releasing a ilexible shunt, as was necessary with control fingers heretofore employed.

One end 35 of the supporting bracket 3 groovedto receive the end of a conductor 36, and, coperating there- "withris the clamping member 4 having a grooved portion 37 for engagin the con- The other end 38 of the member 4 is curved inwardly to bear upon a raised `portion of the conductor-27 and thushold it close engagement with a corresponding raised portion `39 of the bracket 3. Substantally midway between the ends of the' clamping member 4 is 'an opening 40 ot liberal size and havingflarin end portions through which the upper en of the bolt 5 exten s. Nuts `42 are provided upon the l litly holding the ends ofV the clamping mem Ver l in elec- ,trcal engagement with the conductors 36 and 27. lt will be evident from the structure, of the clamping member -4 that it may 4 serve to clamp conductors of widely varying sizes with equally effective results.

Attention is directed to th-e fact that the single bolt 5 which projectsthrough the supporting block 2, the bracket member 3, and the clam ing memberi serves to separa'tely and in epeiidently clamp the conductor 36 in `position and bracket 3 to its supportn structure 2.

. Obviously, the structure details and arran ement and location of parts ma be varied materially without departing lrom the spirit and scope of my invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims. A

l claim as myinventon:

1. A contact member for electrical apparatus, comprising a supporting bracket having a transverse roove, having 4an end a apted to be seated in said lrloove, and a conducting member inter osed etween said bracket and said end o said fingen 2. A contact mem/ber for electrical appar ratus, comprisingisupporting bracket having a transverse roove, having an end a apted tobc seated in said 1 groove, and a plurality of conducting niem- 'bers interposed between said bracket and said end of saidfinger and respectively se` cured thereto.

3. A contact i'atis, comprising a supporting bracket vavilig a, transverse roove, a detachable finger haring an end a 4ilpted to be seated in said groove', and a plurality of conducting niemers one of which is/idl osed in'said groove and mechanically nndeectrically associated with 'said bracket and the other of which fits a detachable finger a detachable finger also to secure the l member for electrical a paj said 'bracket and said linger Vand meenamA ically independent of ea'ch other formakin a good electrical connection between sai nger and said bracket.

5., 'An electrical contact member compris-4 ing a supporting bracket, a conductin finger resiliently associated therewith an having one end restingy against said bracket, and yconducting members respectively secured to said finger and to said bracket and interposed between them.

6. An electrical contact member comprising a supporting bracket, a conducting finger resiliently pressed against said bracket, and means interposed between said bracket and said finger and mechanicall secured to only one of said parts for provi ing a good electrical connection between said parts.

7. .In a contact device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a supporting member, a bracket arm having a portion to receive a conductor, and a clainping'member coperating with said bracket arm and said conductor, of albolt and a plurality of independent means coperating therewith for respectively securing said bracket arm to said supporting member and holding said conductor in position.

' 8. In a contact device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a supporting member, a bracket arm having a portion to 40 receive a conductor, and a clamping niem- .ber cooperating with said bracket arm and and another end adapted to rest upon said conductor, of meanscoperatin 4therewith for holding said clamping mein )er against said conductor.

11. In` n contact device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a supporting member, and a base member having a con` ductor seat and a bearing portion, Aof an 4upwardly curved clamping member adapted `to coperate with said bearing portion and said conductor seat, a singlemember project# ing through said supportin member, base member and clamping mem er and means disposedbetween said base member andsaid clamping member and above said clamping membei` for independently clamping said parts in position. v

`12. Ina contact device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a supporting member, and a base resting thereon and having a recessed central portion, of a threaded bolt projecting through said supporting member and said recessed central portion ofV said base, a nut coperating with said bolt and disposed Within said recessed portion for securing said base to ysaid sup` said conductor, of common means coperat.

ing with said supporting member, said bracket arm and said clamping member and plural means coperating with said com- 4mon .means for respectively fastening said arm to said supporting member and clamp ing said conductor in position.-

` 9. In a contact device for. electrical apparatiis, the combination With a supporting member, a bracket arm having a portion to receive a conductor, and a clamping meniv bercoperating with said bracket arm and said conductor,of a single member proyecting through said supporting member, said bracket arm and said clamping member2 and separate means coperatin with said single member for independent y securing said bracket arm and said conductor in position.

l0. Iii :i contact device for electrical nppai'atus, the combination with a supporting member, a bracket arm having a portion lo receive a conductor and a beni-ing,porlioii.-

and a clamping member liavingii rounded end adapted to rest upon said bearing portion ortin member, .a clamping member bridg-` ,ing sai `recessed ortionand having its ends resting upon sai base, said bolt projecting through said clamping member intermediate its ends, and another nut cooperating vwith said bolt and engaging said clamping member.

13. In a contact device for electrical apparatus, the combination with a supporting member, and a movable conducting member, of a contact finger having one end adapted to slidably engage said conducting member and the other end held in yielding engagement with said sporting member, and a conducting niemi y in .erposed between said supporting member and said other end of the contact finger. l

14. A contact member for electrical apparatus comprising a main body member,` a linger having an end adapted to rest upon said body member, and a plurality of conducting members respectively attached t0 said body member and said finger and interposed between them.

15. A contact member for electrical apparatus comprising a Vmain body member having a recess therein, a finger haring an end adapted .to rest in said recess, and flexible conducting members associated with said body meii'iber and said finger and dis-- posed ii'ithinsiiid recess and intcrposedhbe-T- tween them.

izol

said body member and disposed intermediate subscribed my immo this l'7th day of June, one` end of said finger andthe free end of 1913.

said projecting arm for sefurn said finger EMMETT W STULL. in position and adjustingthe orce of salid Witnesses: 5 sprlng.

R. W. COPELAND, In testimony whexl'eof, I, have hereunto B. B. Hnms. 

